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Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2m valued of items, among them from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out thefts.

On March 31 they took more than £1m of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the crew broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional itinerant thieves, used gloves and face coverings, turned their phones off as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

The other three had no assets or assets so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not paid.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the amount due".